He's a card-carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild whose credits include starring in True Value Hardware television commercials and an independent film shown at Sundance. He has modelled for international software giant PeopleSoft, performed annual hosting duties for Winnipeg's Variety Club Telethon and sang as Juan Peron in the musical Evita.

He can recite Shakespeare on demand.

As a father, a husband, a longtime substitute teacher and guidance counsellor who recently starred in a series of short plays written for him, he's shown an incredible ability to adapt and excel at every challenge he's tackled.

If ever there was a man capable of taking centre stage at McMahon Stadium as the Calgary Stampeders' new starting QB, it's Khari Jones.

Acquired last week from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to take over from a largely ineffective Marcus Crandell, the 33-year-old is now a symbol of hope for many Stamps fans who had all but given up on the once-proud club.

A bona fide CFL star who became league MVP just one year after making his first professional start, the cerebral Indiana native has always had a knack for learning quickly.

One of the first signs of such dexterity came at age nine when he started playing Pop Warner football in Sacramento.

"At first I wanted to be a receiver because I loved Lynn Swann," the engaging pivot said, laughing.

"But then I got out there and they put me at quarterback. It wasn't because of my arm, it was because I was a smart kid, a brainiac in the class. The coaches knew they could signal in plays to me and I could remember them and speak correctly and relay the play to the guys. I would do my handoffs all day and facilitated everything."

It wasn't long before they allowed him to start throwing the ball, which he did effectively enough to land interest from the University of California-Davis.

"I was a good quarterback in high school but

I never got any scholarship offers, so I went to UC Davis, which is a great QB school," said Jones of the Div. 1-AA Aggies.

"I'm one of the only guys still paying for my schooling. I still send that monthly cheque."

Bored and looking for something to occupy his free time while red-shirting (sitting out football) his first year at college, Jones decided to give acting a try.

"I went to the library, got a monologue book, learned a monologue and auditioned," said Jones, whose natural ability landed him a role in Zora is my Name, which facilitated introductions to a stunning actress named Justine, who he'd marry years later.

"I just like trying different things and being involved with different challenges. With acting, I definitely got the bug."

The next year, he added on-field performances to his stage credits as he slowly racked up school records and accolades as one of the best quarterbacks in the American West conference.

When mild interest from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Sacramento Goldminers failed to turn into anything following his graduation, he spent a year acting in a local play, where he played opposite Justine, who he then started dating for the first time.

Months later, the Albany Firebirds of the Arena League saw the tape Jones sent to every pro football team and signed him to play third-string behind Steve McNair's brother Fred.

"They were the only ones interested," said Jones, who sat on the bench for one year before getting a call two games into the next season inviting him to join the Scottish Claymores in the World League.

"I was a backup for half a season and was one-for-one for nine yards," he said, laughing.

"I probably have the best passing percentage in league history."

It led to a successful tryout in 1997 with the B.C. Lions, where he spent three years doing light mop-up duty behind Damon Allen.

"They were talking about me being his heir apparent and that he was going to retire soon," chuckled Jones of the ageless Allen.

"You see how that worked out."

Returning home each summer to act and teach kids of all ages, Jones insists despite the fact he was nearing 30 and still hadn't made a pro start, he kept the faith.

"There were times during that period when I think I called home every training camp and told my dad, 'I think that's it -- they always bring in the next new thing to take me out of my position,' " recalled Jones."My whole thing was just proving to myself I could play at the professional level ... I was just waiting for that chance."

Traded to Winnipeg in February 2000, Jones finally got that shot at age 29 when an injury to starter Kerwin Bell opened the door.

Over the next three years, he would lead Winnipeg to the Grey Cup in 2001 (where they lost to the Stamps), set numerous club records, become league MVP and win more games than any CFL pivot.

Still, when this season began poorly and Jones suffered shoulder problems, the honeymoon was over, as he became a popular target for fans and the media.

"My time in Winnipeg was great but, to a certain extent, I felt like it kind of ran its course," said Jones, whose last rave reviews in Winnipeg came last winter courtesy of a series of short plays written for him called Making Passes: An Evening of Romance with Khari Jones. (Proceeds from his performance went to charity).

"We almost became victims of our own success."

Indeed, they had, opening the door for a trade that saw Jones and his three-year, $1-million contract shuffled out of town to a city where he'll be given a clean slate.

And a whole new audience to which he can play both on the field and perhaps onstage.

"I always knew football would be first," said Jones, who said he'd consider any acting opportunities thrown his way in Cowtown.

"In college, I decided I wanted to play football as long as I could and then start acting. Maybe I could do some teaching or coaching ... I'll figure it out when I grow up."

The Joneses will wait until after the birth of their second child in January to relocate to Calgary.

It's then the personable pivot plans on diving into Matt Dunigan's playbook while simultaneously delving into the community.

"I just auditioned for a movie in Winnipeg and got a part but I couldn't do it because the shooting times conflicted with practice," said Jones. "(It was) a made-for-TV movie about natural disasters ... I was trying to really work it out."

Too bad because experience with disasters would've come in handy

Oct. 16 when he'll enter the eye of the storm against Toronto. It will be his most demanding role yet.